One thing I know for sure is that, as a whole, our medical training system has gotten it all wrong when it comes to helping students correctly identify which specialty they want to apply to.
Coming from undergrad to medical school, I spent four years learning about myself. I went to grad school, worked for a few years in the real world, and gained real-life experiences. During that time, I couldn’t exactly tell you what I wanted, but I could tell you what I didn’t want. And what I didn’t want was for my life in medicine to overtake my personal life.
I wanted a life filled with balance, fulfillment, and purpose. And I knew certain fields in medicine would give me a better chance at achieving that.
This brings us to the most dreaded, and most commonly asked question every med student has to wrestle with: “So, what specialty do you want to go into?”
Oftentimes, it’s asked with genuine curiosity, but sometimes, it’s asked with a hint of pressure or judgment.
It seems like a simple question on the surface, but behind it lies one of the most personal and complicated decisions you’ll ever make.
Choosing a medical specialty isn’t just about what sounds prestigious or what looks impressive on social media. It’s not about your board scores or how many research posters you can stack on your CV.
At its core, choosing a specialty is about understanding yourself: your values, your lifestyle goals, your strengths, and your long-term vision for the life you want to lead.
In college and even in medical school, it’s easy to think this decision will come later. Maybe it will come to me during the preclinical years, or maybe it will hit me while I’m rotating through my clinical clerkships?
But the truth is, the earlier you start to understand yourself, the better positioned you’ll be when it’s time to choose. Let’s break this down with real examples.
If you value sleep, think twice about fields that require frequent overnight calls or early morning surgeries. Waking up at 4:30 a.m. to preround might sound manageable now, but it wears differently on a 35-year-old with toddlers than it does on a 22-year-old who may crave a late-night partying sesh.
If you’re energized by human connection and thrive on deep relationships, consider specialties that allow you to follow patients over time. Fields like family medicine, pediatrics, or internal medicine offer that continuity and connection. You’re not just treating illnesses, you’re walking with people through the ups and downs of their health journeys.
On the other hand, if you’re procedure-driven and find satisfaction in fixing problems quickly and efficiently, a more acute, task-focused specialty like surgery, emergency medicine, or anesthesiology might be a better fit. There’s no one-size-fits-all, but knowing how you prefer to spend your working hours can point you in the right direction.
Now let’s talk about lifestyle, something many premeds are encouraged to overlook in favor of prestige or income. But lifestyle matters. Maybe you want to start a family in your 30s, or maintain close relationships outside of work. Perhaps you have creative or entrepreneurial pursuits you’re not willing to put on hold. In that case, choosing a specialty that offers a more predictable schedule and fewer overnight shifts might be a wise move.
For some, financial stability and higher income potential are key factors, and that’s valid, too. Student loan debt, financial goals, and family responsibilities can all impact how important salary is to you. Just understand that many high-paying fields require more years of training, longer work hours, or higher pressure environments. There are trade-offs, and they should be weighed honestly and without shame.
One thing many students overlook is how much their values change over time. At 20, you might be willing to sacrifice sleep and weekends for the adrenaline rush of the OR. At 30, you might crave slower mornings, time with your kids, or the freedom to leave work at work. That’s why I encourage students not only to reflect on who they are now, but to also think about who they might become. Ask yourself: What will I care about in 10 years?
This is hard to do in your 20s, especially when life feels like it’s accelerating: exams, applications, interviews, repeat. But taking a step back to think about your long-term self is one of the most powerful things you can do.
The version of you who’s built a life outside the classroom, the one who’s figured out what brings them peace, meaning, and joy deserves to be factored into the decision too.
Of course, no specialty is perfect. Every field in medicine has its share of sacrifices. And no decision is ever entirely final. People do switch specialties or find unique ways to mold their careers around their values. But having clarity on what matters to you, whether it’s sleep, salary, relationships, or flexibility, can help you make a decision that feels less like a compromise and more like a choice aligned with your purpose.
To the premeds/med students reading this: It’s OK not to have it all figured out. It’s OK to change your mind. But don’t ignore the inner voice that tells you what you truly value. Pay attention to what lights you up, and what drains you. Listen when your body asks for rest. Notice what you miss when you’re away from it too long. These are clues, and they’re worth following.
Choosing a specialty starts with choosing yourself. Not the version of you that’s trying to impress a committee or live up to someone else’s expectations. But the version of you who’s honest about what you want. Be brave enough to stand true in that, and go out and pursue it.
How did you decide on your specialty, and what would you tell your younger self? Share in the comments.
Jeremiah J. Whittington, MD, is a family medicine resident at the MedStar Health/Georgetown University Family Medicine Residency Program in Washington, DC. He shares insights about mentorship, wellness, and career alignment for the next generation of physicians, and you can follow him on Instagram @Jeremiahjwhittington.
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